College Football Rankings 2011: Top 25 Heading into Week 11

With No. 1 LSU vs. No. 2 Alabama coming this Saturday, the BCS Top 25 heading into Week 11 will look distinctly different. 

BCS standings mean more than anything to college football teams right now, and this week will turn the nation on its head.

As college football fans everywhere anxiously wait to see No. 1 vs. No. 2, the Week 11 BCS standings promise to have a new top contender for the National Championship game.

Along with a new top contender comes plenty of debate regarding which team deserves that right.

Certainly, the winner of No. 1 LSU vs. No. 2 Alabama will earn the right and control its own destiny, but who the winner's opponent will be on January 9th in New Orleans will be a dogfight 'til the end.

The next month of college football will contain more drama than a Lifetime Original Movie, and college football fans everywhere won't be able to get enough.

Here is what the BCS Top 25 heading into Week 11 will look like. 

Honorable Mention: Ohio State

Once written off for dead, Ohio State is slowly turning its season around. The Buckeyes are now 5-3 and face a lackluster Indiana in the Horseshoe this week. 

Ohio State will continue building momentum after its upset of Wisconsin in Week 9.

Don't look now, but a win over Indiana this week and a win at Purdue in Week 11 would be four straight for the Buckeyes. This would make them 7-3 before hosting Penn State and traveling to Ann Arbor in their final two games. 

Expect the Buckeyes to just miss the list in Week 11. 

Prediction: Ohio State 38, Indiana 10

No. 25: Texas Tech

The Texas Tech Red Raiders will get back to winning this week when they travel to Austin to face the ranked Texas Longhorns. 

After a massive letdown last week against Iowa State after beating then No. 3 Oklahoma the previous week, quarterback Seth Doege will get back to being dominant.

Doege has 22 touchdown tosses and six interceptions on the season. Two of those interceptions came last week, as Doege was held to a season low 171 yards. In comparison, he's thrown for 300-plus yards six times this year. 

Don't expect another poor performance from Doege and the Red Raiders this week against Texas. Their offense will be too much for the Longhorns. 

Prediction: Texas Tech 48, Texas 41

No. 24: Georgia Tech

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets earned Top 25 status again last week after they beat Clemson.

After beginning the season 6-0, the Jackets lost two straight games before bouncing back. Now, the team enjoys a bye week before hosting Virginia Tech next week.

The test against Virginia Tech in Week 11 will be the deciding factor for fans in terms of Georgia Tech's legitimacy. 

Prediction: Plenty of rest

No. 23: Auburn

The Auburn Tigers are idle in Week 10 and will stay put at No. 23 after the BCS standings are announced on Sunday night. 

Auburn will have plenty of studying to do on its bye week in preparation for a road game against Georgia in Week 11.

At 6-3, War Eagle has surprised many this season after winning the national championship last season. The jury is still out on the 2011 Tigers—after all, they've been outscored 249-235 this year.

A win at Georgia next week would solidify Auburn as a Top 25 team. 

Prediction: Lots of homework

No. 22: Southern Miss

Southern Miss is the team no one expected to be in the Top 25 this late in the season.

At 7-1, the Golden Eagles have won six straight and face East Carolina on the road this weekend in a crucial Conference USA battle. Both teams are 3-1 in the East Division, and with a win, Southern Miss would have a real shot at finishing the regular season with only one loss. 

The Golden Eagles are led by senior quarterback Austin Davis and a well-balanced offense. The team currently has two running backs and two receivers with 400-plus yards on the year.  

By winning the division, Southern Miss would most likely face ranked Houston in a very intriguing Conference USA Championship Game. 

Expect Southern Miss to be sitting at No. 22 after a win at East Carolina.

Prediction: Southern Miss 45, East Carolina 28

No. 21: West Virginia

West Virginia was ranked as high as No. 15 before an unexpected loss at Syracuse earlier in the season.

Now, the Mountaineers have work to do and will host Louisville this weekend. Louisville ousted Syracuse, 27-10, last week.

Expect the Mountaineer defense to have its best game of the season against a stagnant Louisville offense. Lack of a Louisville offense means plenty of throwing opportunities for West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith. 

In the end, West Virginia wins big and climbs to No. 21 in the BCS standings

Prediction: West Virginia 31, Louisville 13

No. 20: Kansas State

Kansas State was ranked No. 8 just last week but will continue to free-fall with its second straight loss. 

Last week, the Wildcats got worked by the Oklahoma Sooners in Manhattan by a score of 58-17. This week, they travel to Stillwater, OK to face the mighty Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Sooners quarterback Landry Jones put up 505 yards on K-State last weekend, which means Cowboys quarterback Brandon Weeden could do the same. 

Oklahoma State will dismantle the Wildcats, and it will show in the upcoming BCS standings.

Kansas State will drop to No. 20 heading into Week 11. 

No. 19: Wisconsin

Wisconsin looked like a true contender until it fell victim to two Hail Marys in as many weeks.

Good thing for the Badgers, they return to Madison this weekend to host the Purdue Boilermakers. While it's true that the Boilermakers are better than expected, they're only 4-4 on the season.

Expect Wisconsin to let out some frustration on Purdue and regain some lost ground. 

Prediction: Wisconsin 49, Purdue 14

No. 18: Arizona State

Led by 6'8" quarterback Brock Osweiler, the Arizona State Sun Devils are a threat to all opponents this season. The Sun Devils are currently 6-2 and look to earn their seventh win over UCLA this weekend.

Besides Osweiler, fans should keep an eye on ASU running back and touchdown machine Cameron Marshall, along with linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who is bound for the NFL.

The win will boost the Sun Devils to No. 18 next week. 

Prediction: Arizona State 42, UCLA 28

No. 17: Georgia

Georgia is one of the hottest teams in the country at the moment.

The Bulldogs started 0-2 but have won six straight. Saturday, they'll make it seven straight as they host New Mexico St.

Georgia beat rival Florida this week and currently is tied atop the SEC East with South Carolina.

A win, coupled with a South Carolina loss to Arkansas this weekend, puts the Bulldogs in sole possession of first place in the division. Expect Georgia to take command of the SEC East by week's end.

Georgia will also upgrade to No. 17 in Week 11's BCS standings. 

Prediction: Georgia 38, New Mexico State 7

No. 16: Michigan State

After defeating Wisconsin on a last-second prayer, Michigan State was brought back down to earth last week against Nebraska, who manhandled the Spartans.

Luckily for MSU, it gets to host woeful Minnesota this week. 

Expect the Spartans to win big and climb to No. 16 in the upcoming BCS standings. 

Prediction: MSU 45, Minnesota 10

No. 15: Penn State

Penn State coach Joe Paterno won his record-setting 409th win last week.

This week, his team will rest before it faces the Big Ten's newest member, Nebraska, in Week 11. Despite having a suspect offense, Penn State is 8-1 with its only loss coming from Alabama. 

Penn State will receive a slight boost and move to No. 15 next week. 

Prediction: Intense film sessions 

No. 14: South Carolina

South Carolina has endured plenty of turmoil this season but has remained intact.

The Gamecocks have won two straight road games but have only scored a total of 28 points. They won't be so fortunate this weekend as they travel to face the ranked Razorbacks. 

Arkansas is just too much for South Carolina at the moment, and the loss will reflect in the BCS standings. 

No. 13: Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines play at Iowa in Week 10 and have little room for error. Iowa is coming off an embarrassing loss to Minnesota last week and will be primed to turn things around.

Michigan will have its hands full, but in the end, the Wolverines' running game will be too much for the Hawkeyes.

Michigan got 170 yards on the ground from running back Fitzgerald Toussaint last week against Purdue. Look for the sophomore to have a repeat performance. 

The road win will propel Michigan to No. 13 in Week 11's standings.

Prediction: Michigan 24, Iowa 20

No. 12: Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech is no joke this season. At 8-1, the team seems destined for a BCS birth.

Year in and year out, it seems that the Hokies quietly fly under the radar, and in the end, they're one of the nation's top teams.

This year is no different. 

Week 10 brings a bye week to Virginia Tech as it'll prepare for ranked Georgia Tech in Week 11. 

Expect the Hokies to remain at No. 12 for Week 11. 

Prediction: Virginia Tech will use its bye week to devise another way to block a kick.

No. 11: Houston

The Houston Cougars will be knocking on the BCS' door after Week 10 is over.

Led by phenom quarterback Case Keenum, the Cougars are 8-0 and have a great chance of going undefeated. 

The Cougars play at 1-7 UAB this week, where Keenum is expected to break the all-time record for the most passing yards in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision history.

With 267 yards, Keenum will pass former Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang for the lead. He currently averages 402 yards per game. 

Expect Houston to start making a ton of BCS noise beginning in Week 11. 

Prediction: Houston 63, UAB 10

No. 10: Clemson

Clemson is idle in Week 10 after a Week 9 loss to Georgia Tech. Although the dreams of a national championship are over, a BCS game isn't out of the question.

The Tigers are powered by sophomore quarterback Tajh Boyd and freshman receiver Sammy Watkins. Together, this tandem will be a joy to watch for college football fans for the next two years. 

Clemson will prepare for Wake Forest and crawl back to the No. 10 spot heading into Week 11. 

Prediction: Refocusing on the task at hand

No. 9: Nebraska

Nebraska has looked shaky at times this season, but it looks like a juggernaut right now.

The Cornhuskers thumped Michigan State last week and look to do the same to the Northwestern Wildcats this week.

If one thing is for sure, it's that Nebraska looks like it belongs in the Big Ten Conference. Its bruising style of play is made for the Big Ten. 

Behind the legs of Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead, it's tough for Nebraska opponents to possess the football. 

Nebraska wins with ease this week and lands at No. 9 heading into Week 11.

Prediction: Nebraska 34, Northwestern 13

No. 8: Oregon

Well-dressed Oregon will be 8-1 after defeating Washington in Week 10, but it won't move up in the BCS Standings. 

Ducks fans will have plenty to gripe about, but there's not much that can be done.

Oregon's only loss came to LSU in Week 1, which usually leaves enough time to re-climb the ranks. This year hasn't been kind to Oregon's rebound, and it won't get any better when the loser of LSU vs. Alabama doesn't drop below the Ducks.

In order to get back to the national championship game, the Ducks will have to defeat Stanford in Week 11 and receive a ton of upset help. 

Prediction: Oregon 56, Washington 38

No. 7: Arkansas

Arkansas survived a scare on the road at Vanderbilt and looks forward to returning home to face South Carolina. 

The 7-1 Razorbacks have only lost to Alabama this year and will beat ranked South Carolina handily this weekend. The Gamecocks have been struggling on offense and will continue to do so this weekend. 

Despite its win over a Top 10 team, Arkansas will stay at No. 7 this week.

The Razorbacks will have to wait until Week 13, when they play at LSU, to make their case for a higher ranking. 

Prediction: Arkansas 31, South Carolina 10

No. 6: Oklahoma

After a shocking loss to Texas Tech in Week 8, Oklahoma demolished Kansas State last week, 58-17. 

It looks to do the same this week at home against a strong Texas A&M team. Even with a big win, Oklahoma will remain at No. 6 in Week 11.

This year's Top Five teams are as tough as ever, and the Sooners will have to wait until their last game of the season against Oklahoma State to get within striking reach of a national championship. 

Prediction: Oklahoma 37, Texas A&M 27

No. 5: Boise State

Boise State will trounce UNLV this weekend to remain undefeated but will be static in the BCS standings heading into Week 11. 

If there's one thing that BCS computers don't like, it is weak competition.

Other than Georgia, Boise State has played a bunch of nobodies this season. While it's not the Broncos' fault that they've become an upstart powerhouse in a delicate conference, they may want to schedule more than one strong opponent from here on out.

Then again, a move to the Big East may help.

Boise State will stay at No. 5 heading into Week 11. 

Prediction: Boise State 63, UNLV 14

No. 4: Alabama

Undefeated Alabama is involved in the biggest regular season college football game this millennium against LSU this weekend.

Everybody in America should cancel their plans and watch this game.

These two teams are undoubtedly better than a few NFL teams right now, and the over/under on the number of future NFL members playing in this game is around 22.

This game will be hard-hitting, action-packed fun, but in the end, Alabama will fall to LSU.

In doing so, the Crimson Tide will drop to No. 4.  

No. 3: Stanford

The Stanford Cardinal are clawing their way up the ranks and look to win big this week at Oregon State. 

Quarterback Andrew Luck has been donned as the future No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, and there's nothing he would like more than a national championship.

Heading into Week 11, the Cardinal will be on the outside looking in at No. 3.

Prediction: Stanford 42, Oregon State 13

No. 2: Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State has every right to be in a jovial mood these days. The team will be 9-0 after kicking Kansas State when it's down this week.

It's true that the Cowboys allow over 26 points per game. However, they score nearly 50.

Quarterback Brandon Weeden has thrown for three touchdowns or more in five games, and receiver Justin Blackmon is one of the nation's best. 

A win over ranked Kansas State combined with an Alabama loss, and the Cowboys slip into the driver's seat on the road to the national championship. 

Prediction: Oklahoma State 52, Kansas State 31

No. 1: LSU

LSU will be the survivor in what promises to be a game for the ages against Alabama this weekend. Bryant-Denny Stadium will be a madhouse, but the Tigers will be up to the challenge.  

This game will be a national championship game in itself. Historically speaking, the No. 1 team is 16-8 all-time against a No. 2 in a head-to-head duel. 

This game will be the best of the year, and LSU will remain supreme.

This game will be won on defense, as LSU will pressure Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron all evening while slowing down running back Trent Richardson enough to win. 

Prediction: LSU 20, Alabama 14